130 BULLETIN 182, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



quadrate, closely applied to the base of the elytra; prostenuim 

 spatulate between the coxae; the front coxal cavities nearly closed by 

 the lobes of the dcflexed pronotum; anterior coxae globose or some- 

 what transverse, but not projecting; posterior coxae "transverse" 

 (scarcely expanded under the femora); abdomen not margined; 

 sternites of first and second segments not present; tibiae unarmed; 

 t-arsi 5-segmentcd. 



Remarks. — This genus is characterized by the shape of the pro- 

 notum. the structure of the prosternum between the coxae, and the 

 presence of strigae on tlie abdominal sternites. 



The genus AncaeMs (or Paralispinus) was described by Fauvel and 

 placed next to Lispinus. It has caused difficulty in that position to 

 everyone who has had occasion to study tlie group. In the Fauna 

 of British India Dr. Cameron wrote, "It is doubtful if this genus can 

 be retained," and he has recently expressed the same opinion to me. 

 When arranging the West Indian Lispimis I arrived at a similar 

 conclusion and included the species of Ancaeus under Li'i'pinus. 

 Later when studying the genus Holotrorhufi I found specimens so 

 strongly reminiscent of Lis'phms that I was led to reexamine the 

 latter. I found that all the species that might be assigned to An- 

 caeus have the anterior coxae prominent instead of globose and not 

 sepai"uted b}' an elevated spatulate process of the prosternum but by 

 a depressed and nari-ow one. Fauvel's description of Ancaeus and its 

 only species gives no clue to these characters, but Sharp examined 

 one of Fauvel's types and declared the genus to have prominent 

 coxae. Assuming that this is true, then Ancaeus must be removed 

 to the subtribe Paralispini, and our difficulties over the relationship 

 of Lis])inus and Ancaeus disappear. 



I have studied 213 examples of the 8 West Indies species of 

 this genus. Of this number I collected 49 during 1935-37. 



KEY TO WEST INDIAN SPECIES OF LISPINUS 



1. Lateral depressions of pronotnm at least half as loii.s; as pronotum 2 



Lateral depressions of pronotnm less than half as long as pronotum 6 



2. Elytra with Impressed discal stria or distiiict rows of punctures 3 



Elytra at most with vague trace of discal stri.i 5 



3. Elytra with discal stria of a single punctate groove 6. striola 



Elytra with discal stria of several punctate grooves 4 



4. Discal stria of numerous short longitudinal bands of coalescent punc- 



tures 8. boxi 



Discal stria of two irregular rows of posteriorly excavated punctures. 



7. insularls 



5. Elytra very sparsely and moderately coarsely punctate 4. anguinus 



Elytra with very large and very shallow punctures 5. attenuatus 



6. Prouotiun finely punctate, more coarsely near base 1. laticollis 



Pronotnm with coarse punctures, slightly ehaipite 7 



7. Sculpture throughout feeble but scaly 3. catena 



Sculpture throughout feeble but definitely not scaly 2. aremlcus 



